to summarise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to summarise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to provide a brief overview or condensed version of information or ideas. Example: "To summarise the main points of the meeting, we discussed the budget, project timelines, and team responsibilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To summarise.

The Guardian - Opinion

They're too clever for me to summarise.

The Guardian - Opinion

To summarise, it's solid but not spectacular.

The Guardian - Tech

To summarise, local journalism is far from perfect.

The Guardian

The arguments, wearily derivative, are easy to summarise.

The Guardian - Books

To try to summarise the plot would be insanity.

The Guardian - Books

"To summarise, cloudy with outbreaks of showers and sunny spells".

The Guardian

If I had to summarise that week in a sentence?

The Guardian

He has a biography too dense to summarise.

The Guardian - Film

1.16pm GMT Nair continues to summarise Botha's evidence.

The Guardian

The plot is simple yet impossible to summarise.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to summarise" when you need to provide a condensed version of key points, especially after a detailed explanation or discussion. It helps signal a transition to a more concise overview for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "to summarise" when the text is already brief or the points are few. It can sound redundant and unnecessary. Instead, let the text speak for itself or use a more subtle transition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to summarise" functions as an introductory phrase, specifically a purpose connector. It signals the intention to provide a condensed overview of previously mentioned information. This is consistent with examples found by Ludwig, where it is used to introduce key points or conclusions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In essence, "to summarise" is a versatile phrase used to introduce a concise restatement of main ideas. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as a purpose connector, signaling the intention to provide a condensed overview. It's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, including science, news & media, and formal business settings. While alternatives like "in summary" and "to sum up" exist, "to summarise" provides a clear and direct way to transition to a briefer explanation. Overuse in short texts should be avoided to prevent redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in summary

This alternative is more concise and directly indicates a summary.

to sum up

This alternative is a more informal and conversational way to introduce a summary.

in conclusion

This alternative is typically used to signal the end of an argument or discussion.

to recap

This alternative suggests a review of previously mentioned information.

in brief

This alternative emphasizes the conciseness of the following summary.

in essence

This alternative highlights the core or most important aspects.

to put it briefly

This alternative indicates a concise and simplified explanation.

in a nutshell

This alternative implies providing a very short and concise summary.

to condense

This alternative focuses on shortening or reducing the length of information.

in short

This alternative is a direct and succinct way to introduce a summary.

FAQs

How can I use "to summarise" in a sentence?

You can use "to summarise" to introduce a condensed version of information, for example, "To summarise, the project is on track and within budget".

What can I say instead of "to summarise"?

You can use alternatives like "in summary", "to sum up", or "in conclusion" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "to summarise" at the beginning of a paragraph?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to start a paragraph with "to summarise" to indicate that you are about to provide a concise overview of previous points.

What's the difference between "to summarise" and "to recap"?

"To summarise" generally provides a brief overview of the main points, while "to recap" suggests a review of information already presented, often in the same order.